Wilmington woman gives birth at GP surgery after waters break in 'almighty gush' in car park

Emma Horgan, 29, had attended a routine midwife’s appointment at Plas Meddyg Surgery in Parkhill Road when her contractions started.

The Hook Green Lane resident had been due five days before, but was unconcerned because her last labour had taken 20 hours.

However this time things were very different.

She told News Shopper: "I thought it was hours away because my last one took so long.

"As I left my appointment I headed for my car but my waters broke in an almighty gush and I started to have very strong contractions.

"They were so intense I couldn't walk so was sat in my car panicking.

"I had got to just outside the car and I just got down on my knees was on the floor.

"The owner of Hamers Deli, in Bexley High Street, saw me struggling and rushed me into the surgery."

The full-time mum, who also has a two-year-old, said: "They bought me back in to one of the appointment rooms - it was me and my midwife, Clare Toohey, and my doctor.

"I kept saying, 'this cant be happening' - I was in shock, I kept asking for an epidural but they couldn't give it to me.

"I rang my husband to tell him to come, he wasn’t sure where I was and I was just screaming down the phone. He managed to arrive just as the babies head appeared.

"The ambulance arrived just after the baby was born.

"I had no pain relief what so ever, and it was all very scary as my baby was in a distressed state.

"My baby was in shock when he came out, he wasn't breathing and looked like a rag doll. Thankfully Clare was excellent and got him breathing in no time.

"My last labour took 20 hours whereas this one took just more than an hour."

Baby Nathaniel is now a month old and weighs 8lb 2oz.

She said: "Everyone seems to be talking about it in the village, my mother-in-law heard people talking about it in a shop recently and told them it was me.

"The surgery said it was the first time they’ve had a birth in there.

"I just want to thank them so much, even when I was upset, they really put me at mind at rest.

"I popped into the deli and gave the manager a card. Otherwise I would have had him on the street. It was really scary."

Plas Meddyg Surgery receptionist Joanne Lattimore helped with the delivery.

She said: “It was such a happy and joyous occasion. The team really showed off their professionalism.

“I was telling Emma she should name her baby after me and the midwife, Clare, was joking with me and saying, ‘I can’t believe you’re saying that when she’s in all that pain’.”